13 (6)

This uniquely shaped hat was a dull, murky shade of red. In a way, it looked like a fur cap, and it served as the garment that symbolized their identity. Though called barbarians by Louis and the other lords, they possessed deep traditions of their own, having survived in such barren lands.

Their attire was truly unrestrained. Rather than a formal military uniform, most wore processed hides of beasts or monsters commonly found in their region. Some were so poorly processed they bordered on being visually repulsive. In terms of efficiency, however, the clothes they wore performed well. At any rate, the man sitting in a chair draped with a stuffed ogre was Gijik, known by the epithet “Giant Slayer.”

Gijik was the highest-ranking elder trusted by Atila, the first leader to ever unify the Gedra tribe. He was the very person who had hunted the twin-headed ogre draped over his chair. Hunting a normal ogre required a unit-sized force. A twin-headed one, however, was nearly twice as difficult to handle. He narrowed his one remaining eye.

His subordinate, who had appeared in a wretched state, stood there bleeding fresh blood. The blood flowing from his head gathered in droplets at his chin. It was proof of how urgently he had rushed to this place. The elders of each tribe watched with indifference, much like Gijik the Giant Slayer. The atmosphere suggested that even if the man died on the spot, not a single expression would change. Regardless, Gijik was the one who spoke first.

“Son of the Bone Lord, your appearance is commendable. Tell me, and tell us, what you saw, heard, and felt.”

The term “Gedra tribe” was a broad one. Outsiders might not know, but their division into chieftain units was comparable to how foreign nobles were divided into houses. “Bone Lord” was the nickname of the chieftain who led him. The bleeding man could be seen as a mere tribesman belonging to that chief.

“Giant Slayer. I cannot believe what I saw. A massive army is surrounding our half-home. My friends and I were setting traps to hunt Gorgons as we always did, but most of my friends were killed or captured in a sudden, large-scale raid. I barely escaped and saw an endless army of white things swarming from beyond the hills.”

“………I see. What was fluttering?”

The one who asked was not Gijik, but a giant of a man sharpening an axe blade on the right. He reeked of pungent alcohol as if he had been binge-drinking until moments ago.

“It is a lion.”

The elders thought of a single word in unison.

“Pontina.”

Gijik spoke.

“To raise an army of that size… The Bone Lord is a fellow hard to trust, but those Pontina bastards are reliable….”

It was a paradoxical statement. Underlying it was their culture: even if they are an enemy, they are reliable if they are strong. A tall man with tattoos all over his body stood up. He had a frame as thin as a withered branch. The man struck his staff against the floor.

“Atila broke the pact first. The Lion has a justification. However, I find it doubtful that he could lead an army of that size twice. That man Louis suffered through a civil war at the same time we did. Son of the Bone Lord, is the number you saw certain?”

“If you wish, you may search my memories.”

The Gedra tribe also had shamans, a concept similar to mages. They also used mana in a unique way. Strictly speaking, however, it bore a more primitive color than the mana used by mages. A shaman’s ability to bond with another’s soul to peek into their memories was a representative shamanism only they could use. Once Gijik gave his permission, the scrawny man walked to the center. Since it would take time, the people around them continued their discussion.

“If what the son of the Bone Lord said is true, this war will be a difficult one. Louis is a figure on the same level as our Atila. However, Atila is at the northern battlefield. We must stop House Pontina on our own. House Pontina was never an easy opponent. But why are they hunting Gorgons?”

“Cowardly wretch, there is no need for the Final King and the Punishment of God. We alone are enough for the invaders.”

“The Final King and the Punishment of God” was Atila’s title. The oldest and most authoritative shaman had called him that before passing away.

“Perhaps they intend to frolic around with the Gorgons.”

Laughter erupted from the surroundings. Gorgons possessed a toxin that even the locals had to refine for a long time. It was such a labor-intensive task that people rarely touched Gorgons unless it was for ritual use or they were starving. From the barbarians’ perspective, it was naturally beneficial if the Gorgon packs were thinned out.

“We’d be grateful if they reduced the Gorgon population, and seeing how slowly they are moving, I can tell how much they fear us.”

“That fellow Louis is different from those other weaklings. We must be determined and prepare.”

“I’ve seen that guy before. What is there to fear about a fellow who looks like a girl? He looks ready to kneel and suck a cock.”

The atmosphere soured rapidly. The one insulted was a man with eyes like fire. He shook out his fur clothes and picked up the axe leaning next to him. He was a man nearing two meters in height.

“…….Do you want to die, dwarf?”

“Giant’s balls. I’ve been wanting to leave a pretty scar on that face of yours.”

It happened in an instant. The two-meter man pulled a hand-axe from his back and threw it at his opponent. If the opponent focused on the large axe in the man’s hand, the hand-axe would end up buried in his head. A sharp sound of wind tore through the air. Both men lunged simultaneously; the hand-axe missed its mark and lodged into the neck of a common barbarian soldier standing nearby. Blood sprayed as the soldier collapsed, but before he even hit the ground, the dwarf pulled two long daggers from his waist and lunged nimbly. Metal clashed noisily.

As thunderous sounds erupted continuously, the other elders thought a spectacle had begun, drinking or betting on who would win. Gijik the Giant Slayer, the only one with the power to restrain them, watched the situation without a change in expression, and the shaman performing the ritual on the side remained focused on his work.

Meanwhile, the shaman seemed to have entered the ritual in earnest as his eyes rolled back. “That guy’s gone,” someone muttered, and the subject collapsed.

The shaman was wandering through a hazy mist. The mist was a pale white, and as he chanted a few more spells, it began to scatter. He was peeking into the memory. Through the seeping gaps, he saw a powerful army, well-trained and well-equipped, stretching on endlessly. And the man riding a horse. Pontina Louis.

In the shaman’s eyes, it looked as if a lion was walking. Transcending human form is a characteristic of those born with a mighty destiny. Though he was an enemy, the shaman trembled at the sight he couldn’t help but admire. Then, as if Louis were conscious of his gaze, he turned his head and looked at the shaman.

‘What..? There is no way he could recognize…’

Soon, a headache began, and he realized Louis had destroyed his shamanism. If he didn’t escape, he would become a living corpse. He immediately released the spell. The imaginary mist vanished, and he was summoned back to reality. He panted for breath. He had broken into such a cold sweat in that short time that he looked pitiful.

“What? What’s wrong with that guy?” “Did he not take enough drugs?”

Gijik spoke.

“What did you see?”

“……The… The Lion. It looked at me. It’s impossible, he shouldn’t be able to see me.”

“What does that mean?”

“An army. Giant Slayer. The Lion is coming. We must prepare thoroughly. They are a well-tempered army. Their numbers are enough to bite us to death….”

Simultaneously, a heavy axe split the dwarf’s skull. Dying instantly, he flopped onto the floor. Spitting once on the corpse and wiping his axe slowly on the clothes, the man said:

“You really have to die to come to your senses.”

“Duke Louis, did you see something?”

Louis looked at Jodan. The army had stopped its march because Louis had halted his horse and was staring into the air. Louis’s gaze dropped to the information window.

“Something was peeking at me.”

Jodan was startled.

“…Pardon?”

“It seems advancing further is dangerous. We will pitch camp here.”

“….Understood.”

Jodan passed the command to those nearby. Louis looked around at the growing bustle and then looked up at the sky. It was gloomy, as if it were about to rain. Dark clouds were packed tight, looking ready to thunder, and eventually, it did. Kraboom. Rain began to fall in droplets. The soldiers’ movements became swift as they moved to set up tents.

After resting here today, they were to begin additional Gorgon hunting starting tomorrow. Since the Gorgons already captured had been dismantled per Louis’s instructions and the necessary parts sent to the rear, the composite bows were likely being fashioned now. The composite bow Louis chose was the Goguryeo Composite Bow, which was more versatile than the Mongol version. For instance, the primary form of the Mongol bow was for horse archery, but Louis did not yet intend to operate horse archer units. While the Mongol bow was specialized for horse archers, the Goguryeo version offered much better options for general ground forces.

Since funds and food were plentiful, Louis had the luxury of time, unlike in the previous war.

Just then, Jodan rode his horse back to Louis. He was holding something. It was a composite bow. The form of the composite bow was of a different quality than ordinary bows. The resilient wood was pulled taut as if it might snap, and the Gorgon horns and sinews held the balance at the tips. Even a complete novice would recognize its expensive appearance at a glance. Jodan looked impressed.

“Your Grace. A soldier just arrived with a composite bow pre-manufactured in the capital.”

Louis took the bow from Jodan. It felt snug in his hand, like touching a well-proportioned woman. Choosing the Goguryeo Composite Bow was the right call. It suited Louis’s taste perfectly. It was not only efficient but also aesthetically pleasing. He immediately pulled an arrow from the saddle, notched it, and drew the string taut. As he channeled mana into it, the limbs began to bend as if they might break. Even at a draw strength that would snap an ordinary bow, the composite bow held firm. Gorgon sinew possessed such monstrous elasticity.

No one could have known that a useless resource, which couldn’t even be eaten, would become such a magnificent weapon. Louis released the string, which had been vibrating with a delicate tremor. Pang! A refreshing sound echoed through the falling rain. Everyone’s eyes turned to Louis. That was how exhilarating the sound was. The arrow soared aimlessly into the air and pierced a flying bird in a single strike. The bird lost its strength and fluttered down; it was a distant range that a normal bow could never reach. Even with mana added, it was incredibly far.

The soldiers let out cries of admiration. Jodan’s mouth hung open in a daze. In truth, he was the one who had adamantly opposed Louis’s operation. Jodan’s logic was that they should strike the heart of the territory at once to give the barbarians no time to prepare. However, Louis’s demonstration of the composite bow proved silently that there was a strategy more efficient than his own.

“The range is… a passing grade. I’ll have to test the power separately on some layered wood.”